Dr. Abuelaish talks about his education as a Palestinian, becoming a doctor, his work at an Israeli hospital delivering babies and going back and forth over the border to Gaza, and the night that 3 of his daughters were killed in an Israeli attack on Gaza. Despite this tragedy, Dr. Abuelaish, who now lives in Toronto, Canada, still speaks out for peace. His book, I Shall Not Hate, is a testament to the human spirit and its belief in the good in people that lies behind even hatred and war. He speaks of building bridges between peoples, instead of succumbing to hatred. He now has a website for the memorial and foundation he has set up in memory of his daughters and his niece who died in 2009, www.daughtersforlife.com.

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, MD, MPH, a Palestinian medical doctor who was born and raised in the Jabalia refugee Camp is a passionate and eloquent proponent of peace between Palestinians and Israelis. He received his elementary, preparatory and secondary education in the refugee camp schools. He received a scholarship to study medicine in Cairo, Egypt and then a diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of London. From 1997-2002 completed a residency in OB/Gyn at the Soroka University hospital in Beer Sheva Israel followed by a sub-specialty in Fetal medicine in Italy and Belgium; then a Master in Public health (Health Policy and Management) from the Harvard University. Before his three daughters were killed in January 2009 during the Israeli incursion into Gaza, Dr. Abuelaish worked as a researcher at the Gertner Institute at the Sheba Hospital in Tel Aviv. Abueaish has been an important figure in the Israeli-Palestinian relations for years, working in Israeli hospitals, treating Israeli and Palestinian patients and fully believe that health is an engine for the journey to peace. This horrific tragedy did not harden Abuelaish’s heart; neither did it weaken his resolve to act for humanity. He continues to live up the description bestowed upon him by an Israeli colleague, as a magical, secret bridge between Israelis and Palestinians.

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish currently is Associate Professor of Medicine at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health; University Of Toronto. He has been invited to give speeches in The European Parliament, Belgian Parliament, House of Commons, the American Congress, state department, Forum 2000 in Prague. In addition, he has given speeches all over the world in academic institutions, Universities and organizations in Canada, USA and Europe.

Call to Action from Dr. Abuelaish : “We must have hope, have faith and most important…take action. A small thing can have a big impact on others.”

Zena Zumeta, internationally known as both a mediator and trainer of mediators. She is president of the Mediation Training & Consultation Institute, Zena Zumeta Mediation Services, and The Collaborative Workplace in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Zena is a lawyer and a former president of the Academy of Family Mediators. She is the recipient of the the Michigan Lifetime Achievement in Mediation Award; the National Education Association/Saturn Corporation Award for Union-Management Collaboration; the John Haynes Distinguished Mediator Award; and the Kumba Award from the National Conference on Minorities in ADR.

2 Replies to “I Shall Not Hate”

It was an honor for me to be able to interview Dr. Abuelaish. He has such an amazing spirit, and almost a defiance against war, injury, the death of his daughters, to not lose his commitment to peace and to respect of all peoples. He refuses to lose himself in hatred.

It was an extremely moving interview. I hope many people will be able to listen to it.

Thank you Zena for being our special guest host for this moving conversation. It was amazing to be part of it and to hear his story. He has so much to give even in light of his tremendous suffering. He is truly an example of what it means to coexist in the face of values and beliefs conflict.